Hood River Zero (Hood River Hoodlums Book 4)

by K. Webster

  “Why not?”

  “She said birthdays are for losers. I don’t know. More Penny avoidance tactics. Garrett’s worried about her. He and Charlotte tried to convince her to see a therapist after what happened with Jack, but she refuses.”

  Hope starts to cry, so I pass her off to her daddy. Zella and Sebban run over to us, babbling about how they saw a frog.

  “Can we catch frogs on my birthday?” Zella asks, peering at me with her wide brown eyes.

  “Frogs!” Sebban yells like the rowdy little shit he is.

  Hope flinches at his outburst, but Roan soothes her with a pat to her bottom.

  “If that’s what you want to do,” I say, “but it doesn’t sound like much fun.”

  “Penny likes frogs,” Zella tells me, not noticing my flinch at her name. “Can she come to my frog party?”

  She’s asked multiple times to see Penny, but I always change the subject. It hurts denying us both. Some days, I barely feel like I have the strength to deny us any longer.

  “I guess,” I mutter. “She might be busy, though.”

  Zella jumps up and down. “Can we call her, Daddy? I want her to come.”

  Hollis and Roan exchange an amused look. I roll my eyes at them. They know how it is. It’s hard to deny your kid something when they want it.

  “Yeah, Mello Zello. We can call her.”

  “Right now?” Her grin undoes me.

  “Sure.” I sigh, flashing Hollis a “help me” stare.

  “Why don’t you two go inside where it’s quiet?” Hollis offers, only encouraging this phone call I’m dreading.

  “You’re a real dick, rat,” I mumble.

  “Dick rat!” Sebban agrees, making Zella giggle.

  “On that note, we’re going inside,” I say, quickly ushering Zella inside before Hollis bitches at me for my language. Not my fault his kid is a parrot.

  Once inside, I sit in the recliner and pull Zella into my lap. I fire off a warning text so Penny won’t be caught off guard.

  Me: Warning…Zella and I are about to FaceTime you per her royal highness’s request.

  Penny: Can’t ignore the request of a princess. I’ll be awaiting the call.

  Her response warms me. I dial her number on FaceTime and turn the screen so Zella and I are both in it. Penny answers on the first ring.

  As soon as her face fills the screen, my heart squeezes. Fuck. I miss her. Each time at practice or at games, I try my hardest not to pine over her. Because people are watching and we’re in basketball mode, I can usually manage.

  Not today.

  Today it’s just us and Penny.

  Penny’s blond hair is in a high ponytail and her pretty features seem sadder than usual. Blue eyes that once seemed hard are soft, maybe even a little teary. Goddamn. I want to pull her through the phone right into my lap.

  “Hi, Penny.” Zella waves at her. “Will you come to my birthday?”

  Penny grins. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  “We’re going to catch frogs,” Zella tells her, giggling.

  “Looks like you already caught one,” Penny teases, pointing at me. “Or is that roadkill?”

  A chuckle rumbles past my lips. “Funny, mean-ass. Real funny.”

  “I missed giving you crap, Smash.” Her smile falls in an instant, taking my heart with it.

  Tierra, the little traitor, appears in the screen beside Penny. “Do you want to come to Penny’s birthday, lil’ Z?”

  Penny shoots Tierra a pained look, but my meddling cousin ignores her.

  “Yes!” Zella shrieks. “Can I, Penny?”

  “She’s not doing anything but sitting here feeling sorry for herself,” Tierra tattles, pinning her pissy stare on me. “I bet she would have way more fun with a couple of visitors.”

  “You don’t have to,” Penny mumbles, darting her eyes my way.

  “I don’t know, Mello Zello. You’re already having a playdate with Sebban. Maybe we’ll see her another day or at your party.”

  Zella deflates and Tierra gives me the stink eye. Penny forces a brave smile on her face and nods.

  “I can’t wait to see you on your birthday,” Penny says, her voice cracking just slightly. “See you soon.”

  We all say our goodbyes and then the screen goes black. I lean my head back and stare up at the popcorn ceiling that Roan already told me he wants to tackle after the kitchen.

  I miss Penny.

  Fuck, I miss her.

  She’s just this gaping void in the center of my chest. I thought I’d fill it up with Zella, devoting all my love and attention her way. Turns out, there’s still room for Penny. Zella misses her just as much as I do.

  “Hey, Zella?”

  “What, Daddy?”

  “You want to go on an adventure?”

  “Yes!”

  I may have a hole the size of Texas in my heart, but Zella’s happiness sure echoes beautifully inside it.

  “Say goodbye to Sebban, baby. Our adventure awaits.”

  Penny

  Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

  I try not to focus on the way Tierra taps her nails on the countertop as she grins at Dad. But I can’t help it. She does it with just enough force that it echoes loudly inside my skull.

  Again.

  Again.

  She won’t stop.

  “Tell me,” Tierra says, taunting Dad for the millionth time.

  “No.” He folds his arms over his chest and shakes his head, earning a laugh from Jace, who sits at the kitchen table. “It’s none of your business.”

  “How am I supposed to help if you don’t tell me?” she sasses, her black eyebrow arched high on her forehead.

  “No one asked for your help,” he bites out, irritation in his tone.

  “But you still need it.” She scoffs, finally stepping away from the counter where she’s been incessantly tapping. “Face it. You strike out a lot.”

  “I don’t strike out,” Dad grinds out.

  “Gary’s more of a home run kind of guy,” Jace offers. “He doesn’t mean to hit a grand slam every time and have these bitches planning their wedding by the end of dinner. It’s not his fault he’s a total package that every single female in this goddamn town wants.”

  “Aww,” I tease. “You sound bitter, pet. Jealous?”

  “Not jealous,” Jace clarifies. “In awe. He gets marriage proposals and I can’t get a chick to commit to dinner. I mean, I like getting my dick sucked as much as the next guy, but give a man a break. At least let him buy you dinner first.”

  I roll my eyes and pretend to gag myself with my finger. “Maybe you should move on to guys. Haven’t you tried dating everyone in Hood River?” I snort. “Remember that time you accidentally got yourself matched up with Aunt Karen?”

  Dad chuckles. “That date lasted all of three seconds.”

  “Fuck you all,” Jace grumbles, making sure we all get to see his middle finger. “Maybe a guy will appreciate me for my fine conversational abilities.”

  “Nah, but he might switch it up and want his dick sucked,” I throw back.

  “Enough dick talk,” Dad groans.

  “I’m eighteen, Dad,” I say, grinning wickedly at him. “I can talk about all the dick. I’m an adult now.”

  “If you start dating guys, Jace,” Tierra chimes in, “don’t tell Loden. He’ll totally stalk you.”

  Jace rolls his eyes, grumbling. “If I ever did date guys, it sure as hell wouldn’t be him.”

  “Maybe he needs a daddy,” I taunt, unable to hold back a laugh.

  “Ground your kid,” Jace says to Garrett.

  “You can ground me,” Tierra says to Dad, batting her lashes.

  “Stop flirting with my dad.” I poke her in the stomach. “He’s old.”

  “So? David Beckham is old. Still hot. I’d do Beckham any day of the week.”

  “Unbelievable,” Dad grumbles. “Go home, Tierra.”

  “You’d miss me,” she sasses, stepping on her toes to plant a ki
ss on Dad’s cheek.

  He chuckles. “Keep telling yourself that, princess.”

  “That’s queen to you, sir.” She smirks.

  The doorbell rings. I nearly leap at the chance to leave this conversation. Tierra always flirts with Dad. I’d say she was just messing with him, but I know her track record with older men. Luckily, I don’t think she’s Dad’s type. He likes frosty, bitchy women who have clout in this town. Dad wants a trophy. An armpiece. He doesn’t want a naughty girl with daddy issues.

  I fling open the front door, expecting to see Charlotte or anyone else. Not Terrence and Zella. The last time he showed up on my doorstep, he broke up with me. Gone, though, is the hard look in his brown eyes.

  He’s smiling.

  Happiness looks good on Terrence.

  “Oh, hey,” I choke out, shocked at their arrival.

  Zella flies at me, hugging my legs. I’m surprised when Terrence steps forward, also enveloping me in a hug. The surprise at having them here at my home has me stunned silent. I try not to behave like a creep and inhale Terrence’s soapy scent.

  God, I’ve missed him.

  Too soon, he pulls away. The grin on his face remains.

  “Daddy and I are going on an adventure,” Zella says to me, looking up with a huge grin. “Can you come too?”

  “An adventure, huh?” I ask, unable to keep from fluttering my fingers along her kinky curls. “What kind of adventure?”

  “A birthday adventure!”

  Tierra hobbles over to us. Her ankle is still messed up, but she keeps a cheery disposition. “An adventure? You didn’t invite me?”

  Zella giggles. “You can come too, Tee!”

  “Maybe I can come on the next adventure,” Tierra says. “My ankle is giving me trouble. I’ll just hold you guys back. Dr. English will take care of me.”

  I shoot her an exasperated look. She shrugs and laughs.

  “Be good,” I grumble.

  “I’m always good.”

  We both know that’s a lie.

  As soon as Zella falls asleep in the back seat, the air seems to crackle with unspoken words. All evening, Zella chattered in animation, distracting Terrence and me from the big elephant between us. She dragged us through all the miniature golf holes, talked our ears off through dinner at Hood River Hoodlums, and then had lots to say while we got ice cream. After a busy birthday adventure, she finally crashed.

  “The loft is that way,” I say, shooting a questioning look Terrence’s way.

  “Yeah, I know. I thought I’d show you our place.”

  Charlotte mentioned they’d moved out a few weeks ago. I’m proud of Terrence making a life for him and Zella. They deserve to be happy.

  It doesn’t take long for him to pull up to the old Campfire Chaos cabin. I frown in confusion.

  “You live with David and Kate?”

  Terrence laughs, deep and masculine. It sends a thrill of desire through me.

  “No,” he says, shaking his head. “They sold this place to me. Now that their property has been cleared from the fire, they’re going to rebuild. David bought a trailer for them to stay in while they rebuild their home.”

  Charlotte had failed to mention that. I mean, I get it. Terrence is a touchy subject for me. She doesn’t like to see me hurting.

  “You did well, Smash,” I tell him, reaching over to take his hand. “This place is great.”

  He nods, giving my hand a quick squeeze before he climbs out of the Trailblazer. I also get out of the vehicle, waiting for him to pull a sleeping Zella into his arms.

  “I forgot how peaceful it is out here,” I murmur as I follow him up to the cabin porch.

  “It’s quiet when it’s not overrun with a million idiots.” He chuckles. “Zella is going to be sad she fell asleep. Whenever she shows you her room, pretend like it’s the first you’ve seen of it.”

  “I promise,” I say with a grin as he guides us inside.

  Immediately, my heart warms. The cabin has Charlotte’s decorating sense written all over it. I’m thankful my sister has a good heart and helped make this place a home for them. It doesn’t look like a bachelor pad. It’s a real family home. I know it’s her style, but I don’t say anything in case Terrence doesn’t want to tell me. At this point, I’m drinking in the time I’m getting with him. The past couple of months have been empty and achingly sad. This is the best day I’ve had in forever.

  “Wow,” I whisper when we walk into her bedroom. “It’s beautiful.”

  The entire bedroom has been painted like something out of a fairy tale. There’s a black king on a black horse and a white queen with blond hair on a brown horse. Between them, on a pony is a pretty brown-skinned princess. There’s a green dragon on one wall and a knight on an orange horse is fighting him. I tear up, staring for far too long at the knight.

  Terrence removes Zella’s shoes and tucks her into her bed. His gaze follows mine, his shoulders tensing for a moment. I bite on my lip, quickly escaping her room so I don’t do something stupid like cry.

  The door clicks shut and Terrence walks past me.

  “Have a seat,” he says, motioning for the sofa. “I’ll get us something to drink.”

  I sit down on one end of the couch. He reappears with two cans of soda, handing me one before sitting next to me.

  “Did you draw that stuff?” I ask, nodding toward Zella’s room.

  “Nah, Jordy did. He’s the artist around here.”

  I smile, imagining Jordy taking Princess Zella’s fairytale scene order and transforming it to something on her wall she’d approve of.

  “This place is nice,” I tell him. “I like what you’ve done with it.”

  He holds up a hand in defense, shaking his head but still grinning. “That’s Charlotte. She and Roux took control. I had no idea how to make this place a home.”

  “She’s great like that,” I agree.

  The room falls silent. But, because it’s Terrence, we sit in comfortable silence. Both of us have always been fond of the quiet.

  “Penny,” he murmurs. “Thanks for tonight.”

  I set my soda down and shrug. “I should be thanking you guys. My birthday was crappy until you two showed up. I had fun.”

  “Zella is serious about her adventures.” He smiles. “That girl has a lot of energy. Wears me out sometimes.”

  “Spoken like a true daddy.”

  “Baby Hope is getting big,” he says. “Kinda looks like Hollis.”

  “She’s way cuter,” I argue. “But, yeah, I guess she kind of does.”

  Hope has been a lovely surprise to our family. I cuddled that baby this weekend, happy to stare at her adorable little face rather than see the pity-filled eyes my family looks at me with ever since the breakup.

  “Penny,” Terrence starts and then frowns.

  “What?”

  “I’m sorry. I fucked up. With us. I was so goddamned furious with you, but that’s because I couldn’t bear to lose you. I lost you anyway—”

  I cover his mouth with my hand, my eyes watering. “Stop talking.”

  Pain morphs into affection and I feel his smile against my hand. I pull it away, my eyes locked on his. He leans forward and presses the softest kiss against my lips.

  “Happy birthday, mean-ass.”

  “Thanks, Smash.”

  Terrence

  I can’t stop staring at her.

  Penny is always beautiful, but there’s something about her today that seems different. There’s a soft vulnerability in her gaze I crave to hold onto and protect. She doesn’t let her walls come down often, but right now, I have direct access to this girl.

  “Did you pass your certification?” She tucks an errant strand of blond hair that’s come loose from her ponytail behind her ear.

  A grin tugs at my lips. “With flying colors. I start next week. It’ll be hella weird since we’re at the end of the school year and the students have been dealing with subs all year, but I’m ready. Karen has been great in prep
ping me.”

  “A teacher and a coach. You’re going for gold, Smash.” Her head tilts down and the same hair comes loose. This time, I’m the one who tucks it back behind her ear for her.

  Blue eyes lift to mine, searing into me with intensity. I know that even though some time has passed, the smoldering heat that always ignites between us hasn’t died down.

  “Any news on Jack?” She bites on her bottom lip, her body slightly trembling.

  Anger shoots through me. Not at her. Sure, I was pissed at her for what she did, but my anger was always for the motherfucker who hurt her. He’s still out there, which worries the fuck out of me.

  “I’m sure you heard. Lacey is dead,” I murmur, keeping my voice low.

  Her eyes water as she reaches for my hand. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Zella doesn’t understand. When I told her, she nodded and then asked if we could go to the river. I don’t know what to do about that.”

  “Maybe she already knew,” Penny says, her voice soft. “She was living under the same roof as them. Maybe she saw…” Horror washes over her features. “Can you get her to see a therapist?”

  “I’m going to, yes. Your dad and the social worker both think I need to. After the abuse she clearly received yet won’t talk about, I think it’s necessary.”

  “One day, I will take every asshole like him down,” she growls, her blue eyes hardening.

  “You will, huh?”

  Her lips quirk up on one side. “I’m going to become a cop. As soon as they let me into the academy, I’m going to dominate and then clean up this town.”

  A chuckle escapes me because it’s such a Penny thing to want to do. “You might have to arrest your convict buddy Jace.”

  “Perk of the job.” She shrugs, grinning. Her smile falls and she grows serious. “I want justice for people like Lacey and Charlotte.” She swallows. “And me.”

  Lacey never got her justice. Her stepfather slipped out of our hands and disappeared. The rat bastard is probably holed up in some city, trying to blend in like he’s not a murderer. It bothers the fuck out of me that I’ll always have to worry about Zella’s safety because of him.

  “Charlotte got hers,” I remind her.

  The trial went quickly. There was enough evidence of what happened to put both Cunninghams away for life. In my opinion, they both deserved death, but they didn’t ask me. Ryan is now a blind man, only nineteen, and will serve out every second of his miserable existence behind bars. His father, being an ex-cop, will no doubt meet an early death in the pen.